Reorder fields in ArcGIS Pro 2.7

[OliverIshmael]

I would like to permanently reorder the fields of an existing File Geodatabase Feature Class using ArcGIS Pro 2.7

When I try to use the Feature Class to Feature Class tool, using the instructions given here, it does not reorder the fields.

I tried to follow the workaround of exporting to shapefile suggested here, however, this doesn't work either.

I consider this pretty basic functionality so it's really surprising that it doesn't work. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[BrandonBoisvert · Accepted solution]

Have you considered creating a new feature class with the fields in the desired order and then using the "append (data management tools)" to populate the new feature class with your existing data? If you name the fields the same it should easily populate all the data, or if you use different field names with the new feature class, make sure you use the tools field matching type parameters to ensure all desired data is carried over.

[NickMcNamara]

Yes, its a workaround, but that's a lot of work for every time you add a field. Really, we just want a drag to relocate like you can do in a Pro project.

[NickMcNamara]

It's been 15 years now that Esri has had this very common request "under consideration"? They refused to make the tool for ArcMap and so far, there's nothing for Pro either? We've got 4D space time cubes though - everyone uses that, right? Please, make the tool. Let's get our priorities straight. Everyone would use this all the time.

[Ed-Conrad · Accepted solution]

I definitely can relate to the frustration with Esri!  

Here's a workflow that allows this:
How To: Permanently Reorder Fields in a Feature Class Using the Export Features Tool in Ar (esri.com...

[NickMcNamara]

Yes that's another workaround for a one-off, but that's a lot of work for every time you add a field. Really, we just want a drag to relocate like you can do in a Pro project.

[Sizige]

I use to use the XML export tool, then open it in an XML Editor like XML notepad from Microsoft.   It seemed to allow for adjustments and not snip off the ESRI header code.  Others XML editors would not allow for re-import.  This worked well in ArcMap, as I could re order the Items and fix spelling mistakes, with out an issue.  The I could re-import the XML.  Now that I am using PRO, this is not an option.  I haven't been able to reimport the XML file.

Link to XML Notepad https://microsoft.github.io/XmlNotepad/

[AshneyDaniel]

Make a copy of your feature class. Ensure it has a unique ID. Add one if not.

Export the feature class as xls and then bring it into MS Access.

Reorder, rename, add, delete fields.

Export from Access back to xls. 

Delete all but the geometry and ID fields from your feature class copy.

Join the xls table to your feature class via the ID field. Save out result.

This might mess with field data types since they're not always treated the same across software eg ESRI might not interpret a numeric type in the same way as what you set in Access so be careful there. 

[Sizige]

Just found another way to make changes to the schema without having to use an XML editor or MS Access, though I will look at your idea as well.  In Pro 3.3.1   you can create a schema report.  as Json, or .xlsx. These file formats will support moving fields, modifying fields, and then you can export out to XML and directly import to your geodatabase.  My data is in an enterprise database, so I will be testing it in a test environment a few times to see what happens.  I think this became available two years ago.  I stumbled across it while trying to create a data dictionary.